To answer your question... I don't think that they are "done" competing for the title, but they need a serious attitude adjustment. Maybe they were humbled in the '06 playoffs, but I doubt it. Losing their defensive security blanket also doesn't help things.

In short... can they get back to the top? Sure. Will they? I don't think so.

Teams like Miami, Cleveland, and Chicago will all be better in '06-'07. The Pistons need to keep pace and I'm not sure they can after losing Wallace.

As far as contention, it's possible they could be BETTER. Ben Wallace is getting older, has absolutely no offensive game, can't hit a free throw....

For a lot cheaper, they have Nazr Mohammed, who was on a world champion, has similar size to Ben, is a much better offensive player, a decent rebounder, and is 3 years younger. With the money Pistons saved, maybe they get another good bench player or another big man to help Nazr out.

Bulls WAY WAY WAY overpaid.....maybe they thought they had to...but Ben isn't the reason a team wins a championship

As far as contention, it's possible they could be BETTER. Ben Wallace is getting older, has absolutely no offensive game, can't hit a free throw....

For a lot cheaper, they have Nazr Mohammed, who was on a world champion, has similar size to Ben, is a much better offensive player, a decent rebounder, and is 3 years younger. With the money Pistons saved, maybe they get another good bench player or another big man to help Nazr out.

Bulls WAY WAY WAY overpaid.....maybe they thought they had to...but Ben isn't the reason a team wins a championship

You're right. He isn't the reason a team wins a championship, but he is one of the reasons.

Really hard to tell right now. If anyone noticed, Ben sucked it up in the playoffs the past two years, and our offense is easily bogged down by playing 4 on 5. Our best moments in the playoffs this year definitely came with Dyess in the lineup with Sheed; that's a lot of scoring and Dyess is a good low post defender.

It's quite possible we win close to 60 games again with all that scoring and we likely have the 9-12 pick in next years draft in addition to our own.

On the other hand he brings a lot of defensive intensity, and raises the rest of our defenders to a new level.

There's no question about it - the Pistons took a serious hit when the Bulls acquired Big Ben. On the bright side, they still have 3 All-Star caliber players in CB, RH, and RW. Hell, you could even make an argument for Prince being in the mix. They're still a contender, but they certainly took a step backwards.

I truly do not believe the Pistons are done. They've always gone on the record that they've never gotten the respect they deserved going into the next season. Next season will be no different. They will be very motivated and The remaining four will vastly improve their play. I see them getting the division title still, Chicago will take a year to adjust. I'm not Pistons fan, but don't count them out.